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  • Introduction

  • Front

  • Controls

  • Drawer

  • Interior

  • Sides

  • Back

  • Electricity Use

  • Water Use

  • Cost Per Wash

  • Yearly Running Cost

  • Washing Speed

  • Washing Performance (8.32)

  • Normal/Permanent Press Cycle

  • Cotton/Whites Cycle

  • Delicate Cycle

  • Heavy Duty Cycle

  • Quick Wash Cycle

  • Dirt Removal

  • Clothes Wear

  • Water Retention

  • Washing Cycles

  • Customization

  • Additional Wash Options

  • Detergent Dispenser

  • Washer Door

  • Ease of Use

  • Controls

  • Efficiency

  • Performance

  • Features

  • Introduction
  • Front
  • Controls
  • Drawer
  • Interior
  • Sides
  • Back
  • Electricity Use
  • Water Use
  • Cost Per Wash
  • Yearly Running Cost
  • Washing Speed
  • Washing Performance (8.32)
  • Normal/Permanent Press Cycle
  • Cotton/Whites Cycle
  • Delicate Cycle
  • Heavy Duty Cycle
  • Quick Wash Cycle
  • Dirt Removal
  • Clothes Wear
  • Water Retention
  • Washing Cycles
  • Customization
  • Additional Wash Options
  • Detergent Dispenser
  • Washer Door
  • Ease of Use
  • Controls
  • Efficiency
  • Performance
  • Features

Introduction

Front

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Controls

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Drawer

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Interior

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The interior of the CDWT980VSS.

Sides

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Olympus SZ-31MR iHS side views

Back

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Electricity Use

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Though it's a little washer, the Haier uses a lot of electricity. Specifically, we calculated that an average year of washing clothes would add 448 kWh to your electric bill.

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Water Use

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If you're paying for your own water, the {{product.name}} will certainly increase your bill. Despite its tiny tub, the delicates cycle used a whopping 43 gallons of water, while other cycles used about 27. Your yearly water bill will probably increase by at least $50. If you decide to use hot water for washes, expect a higher energy bill, too.

Cost Per Wash

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Washes are cheaper than a trip to the laundromat, but still pretty expensive. A normal wash will set you back about 14 cents, while a gentle wash will cost 20.

Yearly Running Cost

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On average, living with the {{product.name}} for a year will cost $55.

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Washing Speed

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Washing Performance (8.32)

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Normal/Permanent Press Cycle

In the 47 minute standard cycle, the Haier HLP23E displayed superior stain removal ability, even with tough oil-based stains like grease and sweat. This would be impressive performance for a washer of any size, let alone a little portable.

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Cotton/Whites Cycle

The Haier HLP23E has no cotton cycle, or custom cycle that can be configured for whitest whites or cottons.

Delicate Cycle

The Haier HLP23E barely moved stains at all on the gentle cycle. Clothes emerged a little cleaner, but also soaking wet and soapy.

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Heavy Duty Cycle

The heavy duty cycle took almost twice as long as the normal cycle, but clothes emerged just as spotless. It did do better at removing dirt and debris, but just barely.

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Quick Wash Cycle

The 28 minute quick cycle did a pretty good job getting clothes clean and lifting debris. It would work well in a pinch for lightly soiled clothes.

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Dirt Removal

Like all top-loaders, the Haier HLP23E had trouble getting dirt and debris out of test loads of laundry. Most of the dirt we added for the debris tests remained in the washer’s drum and stuck to clothing.

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Clothes Wear

We use standard mechanical action fabric strips to determine how rough a washer is on clothing. The Haier HLP23E left those strips more torn and frayed than an average washer with the exception of the delicates cycle.

Water Retention

The Haier HLP23E’s inability to spin out excess water may be its worst quality. Wet clothes make your dryer work harder, and they can get moldy and smelly if they sit for too long.

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Washing Cycles

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Cycle temperature is controlled by what temperature you turn the faucet to. For the sake of consistency, in our tests we only used cold water.

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Customization

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There's no way to customize washes aside from changing the temperature on a faucet.

Additional Wash Options

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You can control the water level for a wash, but that's it.

Detergent Dispenser

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The {{product.name}} actually has two dispensers: An extremely flimsy folded plastic one at the back of the washer for powder detergent, and a receptacle on the side of the tub for pouring in liquid detergent. Next to that receptacle is a lint filter that must be cleaned out after every wash.

Washer Door

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A flimsy, articulated plastic door is hinged at the rear and in the middle so that it can fold to half its height. If the washer is installed beneath a wall-mounted dryer, this will save space.

The interior of the CDWT980VSS.

Ease of Use

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It's tough to cram clothes in the Haier's little basket. It's also tough to drag it over to the faucet, since it's not on wheels. However, that still may be easier than a trip to the laundromat.

Controls

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The {{product.name}} is sold in many different markets worldwide, where many different languages are spoken. Instead of creating different displays with names for cycles, the folks at Haier instead used a number to represent each cycle and slapped a sticker on the front of the washer to provide translation. This works, but it's extremely inelegant.

Efficiency

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The little Haier had some of the highest energy and water usage we've ever seen. It used much more electricity than an average full-size washer, and most wash cycles used quite a bit of water as well.

Performance

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The HLP23E can hold its own against larger washers when it comes to stain removal, though it does have trouble getting dirt, debris and excess water out of loads.

Features

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The only feature that matters on the HLP23E is its portability. It's completely lacking any special options or customizability.

Meet the tester

Keith Barry

Keith Barry

Former Editor in Chief, Reviewed Home

@itskeithbarry

Keith was the Editor in Chief of Reviewed's appliance and automotive sites. His work has appeared in publications such as Wired, Car & Driver, and CityLab.

See all of Keith Barry's reviews

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